Maria Mars, HCPC

Maria Mars uses practical, evidence-based therapy to help people manage distress and build coping skills. She draws on 27 years of experience in mental health to give steady, clear support. Maria is registered with the HCPC, and she offers sessions for people living in the United Kingdom and beyond. She speaks English and makes time to listen without judgement.

Maria often helps people who are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, or stress that feels overwhelming. She supports those dealing with parenting pressures, low self-esteem, relationship problems, grief, sleep difficulties and anger. Her work also includes support for ADHD, bipolar and mood concerns, and for people facing compassion fatigue or life changes.

Her approach blends several well-known therapies into simple, usable steps. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helps unpack thoughts and change patterns that keep problems going. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy teaches practical skills for emotional regulation and distress tolerance. Attachment-Based ideas look at how early relationships shape coping and connection.

In sessions Maria focuses on small, manageable goals and practical skills you can use between meetings. She aims to create a calm space to talk things through, make sense of what’s happening and try out new ways of coping. She will work with you to tailor the pace and tools to your needs.

Maria also offers help around adoption and foster care issues, attachment difficulties, autism and Asperger Syndrome, immigration and veteran-related concerns. When appropriate she brings together different techniques to match your situation and priorities.

How Maria’s approaches work well online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and choosing actions that match your values. It can help when worry or low mood stops you doing things that matter. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) looks at links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour and offers straightforward exercises to change unhelpful patterns. It is often useful for anxiety, depression and sleep problems. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relationship patterns shape current reactions and connection, which can help with trust, relationship difficulties and emotional regulation.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Maria will talk with you about your goals and preferences and then try methods that fit your situation. She treats this as a collaboration - you can give feedback and adjust the pace or focus as you go.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging. Video calls let you use visual cues and longer conversations. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when a session needs to fit a quick break. Live chat and messaging are useful for brief check-ins, practical problem solving and for people who prefer typed conversation. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into busy lives.